Health Secretary Francisco Duque said that he is willing to get vaccinated by any anti-COVID-19 brand as part of the government’s efforts to prioritize the health sector.

During a visit in Valenzuela City, Duque said that he will not choose which brand will be given to him.

“Now the question is, Secretary, kayo ba magpapabakuna ng vaccine A, ito bang Pfizer, ito bang Sinovac, AstraZeneca? Kahit na ano pong bakuna ‘yan magpapabakuna po ako, at tsaka ang pamilya ko papabakunahan ko rin po if it is already their turn,” Duque said in the event.

The health chief defends that he will not be vaccinated not because he is a government official but because he is also among the priority list, the health workers.

“Pero ako naman kasi bilang health worker din ay masasama din po ako doon sa mga prioritized sector or groups,” he added.

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The government said that healthcare frontliners in different government agencies will be the priority in the mass vaccination program.

Vaccine czar Carlito Galvez said that the COVID-19 vaccines will be fully rolled out to the public starting the third quarter of 2021.

“For the quarter three or Q3, iyong third quarter, we will start our massive nationwide rollout,” Galvez said in a media briefing on Tuesday.

Following the government’s timeline, some 30-50 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines are expected to arrive in the country including those from the COVAX facility during this period.

Galvez said the government hopes to vaccinate 50-70 million Filipinos before the end of 2021.

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American company Pfizer is set to deliver the first 500,000 doses of its vaccine in February together with British vaccine maker AstraZeneca.

“With limited available doses, ini-intend po natin ma-prioritize po natin ang ating healthcare workers which is 1.7 million ( to preserve our healthcare system and the government essential services and institution, including the uniformed personnel,” Galvez said.

Healthcare workers will be the first on the government’s priority groups followed by senior citizens, and the indigent population.

The government aims to secure 148 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines before the year ends. (TDT)